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Softball: All-American honors highlight Smardo’s freshman season at Waubonsee CC

By Russ Hodges, Sports Editor

After an outstanding freshman season at Waubonsee Community College, where she earned several postseason honors, including NFCA Second-Team All-American honors, former Rochelle softball standout Morgan Smardo plans to take her talents to the next level.

Smardo dominated the junior college scene this spring, posting a .503 batting average with six home runs and 42 RBIs while leading the Waubonsee softball team in several statistical categories in offense, including at-bats (147), hits (74) , runs (61). ), doubles (17) and stolen bases (19). Smardo also anchored the Waubonsee pitching staff during the 2024 season, finishing 7-5 with a team-best 4.84 and a team-high 63 strikeouts over 76.2 innings in the circle.

“I know my level of play, but I didn’t expect to improve as much as I did during the season,” Smardo said. “My coaches and teammates really helped me get there. My teammates and I had a great bond and my coaches really helped me learn and grow as an athlete. I enjoyed making new friends and forming new bonds with my teammates. I felt like I had definitely improved my approach in the penalty area and was able to hit the ball better where I wanted.

As a result of Smardo’s success as a two-way player, she was named an All-American and received additional accolades, including NFCA First-Team All-Midwest, NJCAA First-Team All-Region and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) recognition. Smardo will transfer to the University of St. Francis in Joliet and compete at the NAIA level next year. Smardo will continue to study nursing in hopes of pursuing a career in nursing.

“St. Francis has one of the best nursing programs in the state,” Smardo said. “The coaches got me excited and I’m really looking forward to meeting the girls and playing with them as they had a great season last year. I am excited to be part of a team that can compete at the next level and I look forward to helping the team reach the national championships next year.”

Smardo plans to play in the outfield at St. Francis next year. The former Lady Hub softball standout pitched and played in right field for the Waubonsee team during her freshman season, where she committed just three errors in the 40 games she played. Smardo helped the Chiefs to a 22-20 overall record and a 6-2 record in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference.

“Playing at Waubonsee has given me collegiate experience in terms of practicing, lifting and being at school every day of the week,” Smardo said. “I was with my teammates a lot more than I was in high school and with my travel softball team, which was a great experience. It’s a really big confidence builder to be an All-American and I now know that I can compete with the girls at the next level and be on the same level as them.

Smardo, who finished her freshman season with an on-base percentage of .529 and a slugging percentage of .755, crushed her first collegiate home run against Sauk Valley on April 9, when she went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in a 8-2 win. Smardo’s red-hot April continued less than a week later against Morton College, as she finished 4-for-4 with four runs, two RBIs and another home run in a 14-0 shutout victory. Smardo had 27 multi-hit games during the 2024 season.

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